Munif Ahmad

Train

ing M

ethods

TRAINING

In simple words it can be defined

as equipping employees with

required knowledge and skills

for the job.

WHY TRAINING?

Dynamic Business Environment

Technological Advances

Advantages of Training

Increased Productivity

Reduced Accidents

Reduced Supervision

Heightened Morale

TYPES OF TRAINING

On the job training

Off the job training

On the Job Training

It refers to new or inexperienced

employees learning through

observing peers or managers

performing the job and trying to

imitate their behavior.

Methods of on the Job Training

COACHING

MENTORING

JOB ROTATION

JOB INSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE

COACHING

It is one to one interaction

Considered as corrective measure for inadequate performance.

Helps in identifying weaknesses and focuses on areas which needs improvement.

MENTORINGMentoring focus on attitude development.

Conducted for management-level employees

Mentoring is done by someone inside the company

It is one-to-one interaction

It helps in identifying weaknesses and focus on the area that needs improvement

Advantages of “On-the –job” MethodsGenerally more cost effective

Less disruptive to the business - i.e. employees are

not away from work

Training with equipment they are familiar with and

people they know can help them

Gain direct experience to a standard approved by the

employer

On the job training is also productive, as the

employee is still working as they are learning

Off-the-Job Training Method

Trainee is separated from the job environment

Take place at training agency or local college, training centres

Study materials

Fully concentrate on learning rather than

performing

Freedom of expression

Types of Off the Job methods

Vestibule Training

Management Games

Role Playing

Films

Lecture Methods

Outbound Training

Vestibule Training

Actual work conditions are simulated

Materials, files and equipments are used

Duration ranges from few days to a few weeks

Theory can be related to practice here

• Training becomes more reality-based.

• Directly applies to jobs.

• Increases the chances of retention.

• Prevents trainees from making costly mistakes or damaging equipment.

• Allows instructors to give more personalized attention to the learners.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Time Consuming

Expensive

Trainer has to be very skilled

There has to be elaborate setups for the same

Management Games

To improve decision making and analytical skills.

To develop awareness of the need to make

decisions lacking complete information.

To develop an understanding of the

interrelationships

To develop the ability to function cooperatively and

effectively in a small group situation.

Types of management Games

Executive Games are general management games and cover all

functional areas {like planning, decision making, etc} of business and their

interactions and dynamics. Executive games are designed to train general

executives. 

Functional Games, on the other hand, focus on middle management

decisions and emphasize particular functional areas {like Marketing or

HR} of the firm. 

ROLE PLAYING

Is the method of human interaction that involves

realistic behavior in imaginary situations.

Benefits of Role playing

Developing interpersonal skills and communication skills

Conflict resolution

Group decision making

Developing insight into one’s own behavior and its impact on

others

Types of Role play

Multiple role play

Single role play

Role rotation

Spontaneous role play

Films/Video Presentations

Content for the training experience comes primarily from

a videotape or computer-based program.

Interest of the audience can be maintained by showing

them audio visuals

Easy to handle and explain

Provides a lot of content to talk about

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages –

Easy to train and the trainer can follow up with questions and discussions

Assured to provide same information to all the trainees

Disadvantages–

Expensive to develop

Such type of training has to be outsourced which may make the training less content specific.

Outbound Training

Outdoor and action-oriented programs through experiential learning

Develops Leadership, teamwork and risk-taking abilities

Interesting as compared to classroom leaning

Conducted by professionals who are very cooperative

Advantages

Trainees can immediately see the consequences of wrong actions

Materialistically enhance their thinking and behavior

Disadvantages

Work time has to be allotted for it.

Interest of the participants is required.

Lecture Method

Lecture is traditional & direct method of instruction.

It is a verbal presentation of information by an instructor to a large audience.

The lecture must motivate & create interest among the trainees in order to become effective

It is presumed to posses a considerable depth of knowledge of subject at hand.

This method is used mainly in college and universities

Advantages

Less time required for preparation

Provides lots of information quickly

Cost per trainee is very low

Disadvantages

Does not involve trainees too much.

Trainees may forget the teaching as it is presented only

orally.

Few Other MethodsIn-Basket Exercise 

Also known as In-tray method of training.

The trainee is presented with a pack of papers & files in a tray

containing administrative problems & is asked to take decisions

on these problems & are asked to take decisions on these within

a stipulated time.

The decisions taken by the trainees are compared with one

another. The trainees are provided feedback on their

performance.

Experiential Exercises

Usually short, structured learning experiences

where individuals learn by doing.

For instance, rather than talking about inter-

personal conflicts & how to deal with them,

an experiential exercise could be used to create a

conflict situation where employees have to

experience a conflict personally & work out its

solutions.

Cases

Present an in depth description of a particular problem

an employee might encounter on the job.

The employee attempts to find and analyze the problem,

evaluate alternative courses of action & decide what

course of action would be most satisfactory.

Advantages of “Off-the –job” Methods

Learn from specialists in that area of work who can provide more in-depth study

Can more easily deal with groups of workers at the same time

Employees respond better when taken away from pressures of working environment

Workers may be able to obtain qualifications or certificates

Disadvantages of “Off-the –job” Methods

The trainer should have specialised skills and

knowledge to train

The trainer may not be given much time to spend with

the employee to teach them properly

The trainer may posses bad habits and pass these on to

the trainee